Chrysalis

I’m so .... So hungry!

Perched here on the roof of the cavern, my claws dug into the cold rock there is only one thought in my mind.

Food!

All the delicious things I was able to eat in my previous life are spinning through my mind, chocolate, cake, steaks, bread, yes even bread! I haven’t eaten anything for two days now, the hunger is making my mind play tricks on me. The last time I saw a Croca-beast I swore it looked like a cow and nearly leaped at it from the ceiling!

The centipedes are looking and more like a tangle of noodles. I have to solve this situation before I get myself killed chomping on something I shouldn’t.

Two days. I have been planning for two. Whole. Days.

I have studied every aspect of this end of the cavern in excruciating detail. I’ve spent so long hanging upside down over the water basin that I nearly feel asleep and dropped into the water. That would be a swim I wouldn’t enjoy...

A welcome side effect of spending all my time this way has been my sneak has levelled up to four! Thanks to spending my downtime digging away at my hiding place my digging has also reached level three.

Mua HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I prepare, I grow, I hunger!

Sigh.

I know, these skills are pretty much useless, ok? I know. I’ll take anything I get at this stage. Hopefully, soon I’ll be able to conquer my first prey.

My antennae twitch suddenly. The target is close, I can smell them. Concentrating hard I try to focus my eyes, I’m currently positioned away from pool in a very dark area of the cavern, the snaking light veins along the walls are far apart here, allowing deep shadows to exist.

My chosen prey has been using the wall on this side of the cavern as a resting place, crawling down to the floor and over to the pool once each day to drink.

creature, with a predictable movement path that I think

Wait, I see it!

haven’t been able to see clearly enough to identify exactly where so I couldn’t tell when it started moving but I

whilst still being stealthy I scramble towards the darkness above the creature.

worry stomach! I won’t let you

the armoured lizard moves fairly slowly, especially on the vertical surface, I get into position

look so solid, as if made of stone. Man, I bet it would sting to get stabbed with one

now, my stomach is counting

I move above the target, my eyes are the eyes of the hunter, the eagle, the tiger!

Now!

I flip my body around, take aim and fire my acid spray directly at the target. The liquid falls

target practice over the last few days has paid

and find the attacker but I’m already moving, racing down the wall behind it,

body as it can. This is the wrong battle ground for you Lizard! You want to battle me here on the wall? With my incredible grip skill at

you want to face

I’m still terrified in this moment. My first battle, the first hunt! I cannot fail here or my life may be over, I have to focus. The Lizard is bracing itself for the close range battle but just before I close in I

ha! Didn’t expect that did

wall hard I furiously scrabble my six legs to reorient myself for the fight as the Lizard growls and hisses as acid continues to burn at its feet

its fangs or spines before

the air against my antennae. I’ve seen more than one fight over the last few days

me is beginning to breathe heavily, the energy required to support its body here on the wall while

forward, its spikes rushing directly towards my still pitiful eyes! I have to dodge! A flash of inspiration strikes and I snap my feet further apart, lowering my body closer to the wall. To

Chance!

dart forward, mandibles wide open and snap, crunching them closed on the head of my

you must

final phase. I gather my strength, prepare my heart and then ...

its head gripped in my mandibles the Lizard begins to fall away from the wall as I sail over its head, scaly feet tipped with claws scrabble and scrape at the stone but burned with acid and worn out from fighting they simply